Home Office

Use of contingent liability by the Home Office to support maritime counter terrorism response capabilities

James Cleverly: I am today laying before the House of Commons a Departmental Minute on the use of contingent liability by the Home Office to support the delivery of maritime counter terrorism response capabilities by our emergency service partners. In enabling delivery of these capabilities, this Government has undertaken analysis on the insurance implications. It concluded that HMG indemnity is the most practical solution to ensuring full insurance coverage is in place. Whilst the likelihood of a scenario occurring requiring use of the contingent liability is remote; it will provide operational delivery partners with additional assurance regarding any realised financial liabilities for any claims arising from the response to a maritime terrorist attack, in the event of market failure. HM Treasury has approved this proposal in principle. In the unlikely event the liability was to manifest, further evidence would be provided and provision for any payment due under the liability will continue to be sought through the normal supply procedure. A full Departmental Minute has been laid before the House of Commons providing more detail on this contingent liability.

Department for Transport

Light Dues 2024-25

Guy Opperman: My Noble Friend, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Transport (Lord Davies of Gower) has made the following Ministerial StatementA strong and growing maritime industry is vital to the economy of the United Kingdom.The work of the General Lighthouse Authorities, which provide and maintain marine aids to navigation and respond to new wrecks and navigation dangers in some of the busiest waters in the world, is crucial to maintaining our vigorous safety record and continuously improving safety standards.Light Dues for 2024-25 will not be changed but we will look to increase the maximum charge of the tonnage cap from 1 April 2025 to 50,000 tonnes.The freeze in Light Dues for 2024-25 will provide industry with much needed clarity for planning at a time of uncertainty in shipping across the globe. The tonnage cap has remained unchanged since 2010 but the number of very larger vessels has changed considerably. Increasing the cap would provide an uplift to revenues that will enable the essential replacement of GLA vessels and potentially avoid increasing Light Dues over the coming years.Light Dues will continue to be reviewed on an annual basis to ensure that the General Lighthouse Authorities are challenged to provide an effective and efficient service which offers value for money to Light Dues payers.